Inside the guild, laughter spread uncontrollably.
Utaha and Eriri's daily clash had once again reached peak intensity—especially Eriri, who looked ready to cross dimensions just to throw hands.
Even Inori, who rarely showed emotion, raised her brows slightly. A faint spark of interest flickered in her eyes.
Eriri…
Was unexpectedly entertaining.
And this Interdimensional Guild—
Was far more interesting than she had anticipated.
Her gaze lingered briefly on one name.
Ryujin.
She had never met him.
Yet even a casual red packet from him contained such valuable items.
That alone proved one thing—
He was no ordinary person.
Perhaps even more powerful than the "target" she was about to seize in her upcoming mission.
After all, to stand as the Guild Master of something this mysterious—
You had to exist on an entirely different level.
Inori lowered her gaze slightly.
Before, she had never truly understood the meaning of her existence. She simply lived, followed orders, and worked for Funeral Parlor… because they had saved her.
But now—
She had already repaid most of that debt.
So what next?
Where should she go?
What should she do?
For the first time—
She didn't have an answer.
But now—
This guild had given her something new.
A possibility.
A direction.
Maybe…
I can go to other worlds.
Meet them.
See more… understand more…
A faint light quietly ignited within her heart.
…
Back in the chat, Linglong tilted her head.
LinglongIsCute: "Why do some of Eriri-nee's messages turn into **? I can't understand them…"
Ryujin replied calmly.
Ryujin: "That's the guild filter."
"Any excessive profanity gets censored automatically."
LinglongIsCute: "Ohhh… so Eriri-nee has been swearing this whole time…"
…
Eriri froze.
Her fingers trembled.
You… little…!
If you got roasted like this—
Let's see if YOU wouldn't swear!!
Her twin tails practically shot upward in anger.
At that moment—
Saeko spoke again.
Saeko: "@[Trainee Guild Master]Ryujin Thank you for the taijutsu manual."
"I just reviewed it… it's incredibly refined. Much more advanced than anything I've practiced before."
Ryujin responded simply.
"You'll need it soon."
He didn't elaborate.
But he remembered clearly—
What was coming.
The outbreak.
A world collapsing into chaos.
Only the strong would survive.
Asuna followed.
Asuna: "I've started studying the Great Fireball Jutsu as well. I'll begin training immediately. Thank you, Guild Master."
Ryujin nodded slightly, then asked casually—
Ryujin: "Has the SAO full-dive game been released in your world yet?"
Asuna paused.
"…Full-dive?"
"No… not yet."
But her expression changed slightly.
Something felt off.
Why does he know this?
And not just her—
It felt like he knew everyone.
Utaha narrowed her eyes.
Utaha: "Guild Master… do you know our worlds?"
"You seemed very familiar with Saeko's situation… and Inori as well."
Saeko added,
"Yes… I had the same thought."
"You said I would 'definitely need it soon.'"
"…Why?"
Inori remained silent.
But she was listening.
Carefully.
Before Ryujin could answer—
Eriri jumped in.
Eriri: "HAH?! Isn't it obvious?! Because Boss is SMART!"
"You think being Guild Master is easy?! If it were, I'd be the Guild Master!"
Utaha responded instantly.
Utaha: "Because you're too small."
Asuna: "Because you're too small."
Saeko: "…I haven't seen her, but… +1."
"…YOU GUYS!!!"
Eriri nearly exploded.
Linglong blinked.
LinglongIsCute: "Eh? Why isn't Guild Master replying…?"
Asuna: "He might've gone offline."
Utaha: "…Yeah."
"But next time he logs in—"
"We're definitely asking."
"Because that man…"
"Knows far too much."
…
Meanwhile—
Ryujin had already logged out.
He glanced at the system notification.
+300 Reputation Points.
Just from a red packet.
"…Not bad."
He leaned back slightly.
Time had passed faster than expected.
The bathwater—
Had already gone cold.
"This guild…"
He muttered.
"Not bad for killing time."
Back when he first transmigrated, this world had felt suffocating.
No internet.
No entertainment.
No distractions.
Only war.
Survival.
Power struggles.
He adapted.
He always did.
But now—
With his strength nearing the peak of this world—
Boredom had begun to creep in.
And this guild—
Added color to his life.
Just as he finished drying himself—
A voice suddenly came from outside.
"Ryujin! I need to talk to you!"
Before he could respond—
The tent flap was pushed open.
Tsunade walked in directly.
Then—
She froze.
Her eyes widened.
"…?!"
Her mind blanked for a moment.
What the—
That's…?!
As a medical ninja, her instincts kicked in instantly.
But instead of analyzing injuries—
Her brain short-circuited.
"…That's not… normal…"
"…Is it?!"
At that moment—
Ryujin turned his head.
"…Tsunade? What is it—"
A cold breeze passed through.
He paused.
Something felt…
Wrong.
Slowly—
He lowered his gaze.
…
"…Wait."
"…Hold on."
"…WHAT—"